Year of a Million letdowns?

[Jennasis]

Nonsense. You certainly don't think that CM's across the board will continue doing all the marvelous day-in-and-day-out things they do to make people's vacations a little happier do you?? CM's will continue to trade pins, give away extra fast passes, upgrade rooms, make towel animals, and all the innumerable things they normally do.

How anyone can POSSIBLY turn this promo into a somehow negative thing is the most pessismistic thing I've ever heard. It is NO different than playing the lottery or Publishers Clearing House. You might win something for participating, but you might not.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I tend to be a "glass half empty" kind of girl, so I can see where the OP is coming from.

I also think some of the prizes are hard to redeem. I skimmed through the rules last night. The rules say things like if you can't go on the trips during the dates chosen by "Sponsor" that you forfeit the trip and receive NOTHING. Not all of the trips include meals - that could get incredibly expensive. DH has an incredibly restrictive work schedule, so winning a trip we didn't plan for would be hard for us. AND you can't give the trip to somebody else - it is non-transferable. There are a ton of loopholes which (surprise!) are in Disney's favor.

Pixie dust is lovely as long as you keep it out of your eyes so you can still see! The fact of the matter is that MOST people won't win ANYTHING. Especially since they have included the mail in option. People who aren't anywhere near the parks will win prizes and those prizes will be "alternate" prizes since the winner isn't in the park. What does Charlie's mom say to him about the Golden Ticket? About how he's no different than the thousands of other people who DIDN'T win? Unfortunately if the people standing next to me win lifetime DVC membership I am going to be disappointed, and I don't care who else DIDN'T win.

We'll be at WDW at least 2 if not 3 times during YOMD so I will try not to think too much about it. It IS Disney, and I love Disney no matter what.

 

[Mickey1122]

Just a quick question...
I have followed all the YOAMD info, but don't know one thing. Can wishes be granted in all parks and waterparks, or just MK? I think it is the former, but just want to be sure.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

FLAME SUIT ON!

I have never been more disappointed in people than after reading this thread.

Who says anyone one of us "deserves" a wish. It is done at random, no matter how you compute it. Everyone complaining about not getting something since you booked to visit during that timeframe but didn't even know it, is one very selfish person.

DISNEY is doing this as a promotion to get people to come to Disney and possibly winning something.

Everyone is so focused on not telling their children because they don't want them to be disappointed if they don't win. Well you don't always win in life either. So I think that it would be a good lesson and might teach children a thing or two. Not keep them in the dark. Not everyone can win.

You can't keep them sheltered from everything.

I am sitting here writing this getting very upset with people, now if you don't win and you see someone else win, you wouldn't be happy for that person!!!! That is just terrible. What happened to people?

Walt would be turning in his grave to hear people talk like this. When I travel to Disney on Dec. 01-04 for the christmas festivities (not the promo) if I happen to see someone win, I will run the other way because I don't want to see all of you with scowls on your faces because "It wasn't me and my family".

Shame on those!

FLAME SUIT OFF.

Have a nice weekend to all.

 

[ToriLammy]

The rules say things like if you can't go on the trips during the dates chosen by "Sponsor" that you forfeit the trip and receive NOTHING. Not all of the trips include meals - that could get incredibly expensive. DH has an incredibly restrictive work schedule, so winning a trip we didn't plan for would be hard for us. AND you can't give the trip to somebody else - it is non-transferable. There are a ton of loopholes which (surprise!) are in Disney's favor.

.

Disney's rules are not much different than any other sweepstakes giving away trips and such. Most sponsors have the right to pick the dates of the trip, how it is normally handled though is the person who won the trip supplies 3 dates that are good for them and then from those dates the sponsor chooses the date.

As for the loopholes in favor of Disney, again no different than any other sweepstakes. Sole Discretion of the Sponsor is used when giving away a free coke, a car or a trip. It is standard procedure and meant to protect the sponor in this sue happy society we live in.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

we're just excited to be in WDW!! our first day in the parks will be 10/1 and we're going to MK! i cannot wait to see our childrens eyes!!!

 

[donmil723]

I'm going to be there four times before the end of the year. If I win anything I'll be shocked. You know what? My house caught fire last night. I got all four of us and the cat out and the fire dept came very quickly and saved the house with repairable damage. I don't need a dream or a prize or anything more than what I have. My family safe and alive with a roof over our heads.
Those four (and maybe more) trips are all the magic I need.

AMEN!!!! Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our loved ones!!!! I'm glad the fire at your house wasn't too bad and that no one was hurt.

I think the Year of a Million Dreams promotion is neat. What is wrong with dreaming that you might win something in this promotion, or the lottery, or the church raffle? I don't see anything wrong with dreaming as long as you realize it probably ain't gonna happen.

Donna

 

[luvpooh]

I REALLY hope Disney has a method in place for crowd control for these events.
Call me cynical, but I can totally imagine the Dream Squad coming out to their pre-designated location on any given day, and being swarmed with people who 'expect' a wish to be granted.
Sorry, but some people's self entitlement attitudes are so prevalent at the parks; just take for example all the threads on these boards about line cutters, those interrupting character greetings at meals or those parade latecomers trying to squish into a spot.
I can just see Mom thrusting little Johnny into the forefront of a crowd to see if he could get a pin or whatnot...and knocking over 3 people to do so...
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that someone's day can be made by getting a wish granted, and would love for it to happen to me, or anyone within my eyesight for that matter. But I'm not going in with any expectations, in fact, I'm going in with expectations NOT to win anything. Think about how many people are, in fact, going in with these expectations...

 

[aviva5675]

I picture people staking out benches and staying there for hours, trying to be in the right place at the right time! Forelornly eating a stale sandwich, alone, while their family is having fun, the designated bench-sitter, waiting for some pixie dust to sprinkle down!

 

[AdventureGuru]

I REALLY hope Disney has a method in place for crowd control for these events.
Call me cynical, but I can totally imagine the Dream Squad coming out to their pre-designated location on any given day, and being swarmed with people who 'expect' a wish to be granted.
Sorry, but some people's self entitlement attitudes are so prevalent at the parks; just take for example all the threads on these boards about line cutters, those interrupting character greetings at meals or those parade latecomers trying to squish into a spot.
I can just see Mom thrusting little Johnny into the forefront of a crowd to see if he could get a pin or whatnot...and knocking over 3 people to do so...
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that someone's day can be made by getting a wish granted, and would love for it to happen to me, or anyone within my eyesight for that matter. But I'm not going in with any expectations, in fact, I'm going in with expectations NOT to win anything. Think about how many people are, in fact, going in with these expectations...

To this I say...why not dress the dream squad in regular CM clothing...that way no one would be the wiser until they heard the shrieking screams of those around them...I think disney has this backwards....


Again...this is just my opinion...

 

[MartDM]

The only way I can imagine anyone being disappointed that they didn't get a prize is if they only came to the park because they expected a prize and, well, that would be really stupid of them since we all know that only a few lucky individuals will win.

Just for a second (and only a second), take off the Disney rose colored glasses (I have a pair of my own).

I'm honestly not sure where you got the impression I was wearing any Disneyfied rose colored glasses. In fact, more often than not I get flamed here for not being a blind devotee and for playing devil's advocate a lot (we only stay at WDW every few years or so during our annual fall trip to HHN at Universal and we visit many other national/world locations during the rest of our vacations throughout the year, giving me a different and often unwelcome perspective from those who limit themselves to only visiting WDW).

If you reread my original post, I think you'll better understand my point to be that only an unreasonable person would be disappointed because only an unreasonable person would visit the parks expecting a prize. As another poster analogized, it's like the lottery - your chances of winning are infinitesimal so it's not worth a second thought.

Nope, no rose colored glasses here...I see the potentially disappointed folks for what they are - idiots. WDW certainly can't guard against that nor should they have to accomodate it.

 

[Tortuga Joy]

Well shoot! We leave the 1st of Oct. but here's pixie dust to all those who will be going while this promotion is going on. Good luck!

 

[MomofCKJ]

This is our first family trip to WDW (Dh and I have not been in 10 years). Our kids have been waiting and dying to go. (pssst, they have NO idea we are going!) It has always been something we wanted to do but A LOT of money for us. Well we are going and it falls in this promotion window. We are just so stinkin' happy to be there it is enough. Should we get lucky and win something it will be icing on the already wonderful cake!

Allyson

 

[HumphreytheBear]

I also think some of the prizes are hard to redeem. I skimmed through the rules last night. The rules say things like if you can't go on the trips during the dates chosen by "Sponsor" that you forfeit the trip and receive NOTHING. AND you can't give the trip to somebody else - it is non-transferable. There are a ton of loopholes which (surprise!) are in Disney's favor.

I don't think you understand this rule. The reason that rule is in place is because there are some prizes that there are NO options...if you win the Trans-Atlantic Sailing for example, you have to be able to sail on the date specified because that is the only date they are sailing... They are ONLY going trans-atlantic over and trans-atlantic to return. If you can not sail on the specfic date than unfortunatley you can't redeem the prize because there IS no other option. It is not that they are limiting the dates that are available, the ship only sails that itinerary once, therefore you have to be able to sail on that date. Also, these are not "Disney loopholes" put in to make it work out in their favor, these are typical sweepstakes rules that are for any type of giveaway, Disney, like any other company has to follow state governed sweepstakes rules and regulations.


Also I wanted to answer Mickey1122's question about locations. From what has been said, they will be doing this in all four theme parks. I have also heard that they might be at DTD, but I have not had that confirmed.

I think it is a great idea. As others have said Disney is Disney, the cast is not going to be any different than they always have been (they will be better, I think). I play Monopoly at McDonald's just hoping that I can win a Big Mac, I don't think less of McDonald's for having a promotion to gain my business...

 

[cleo]

I keep imagining people running through the parks comparing their 'magical' prizes saying "I got a DVC membership!", "I got a night in Cinderella's Castle" and some poor Charlie Brown saying "I got a FastPass".

 

[iluvepcot]

I think some people may want to increase their chances for winning. Just like people buy lottery tickets. Some play and buy every day and never win and some play once in a while and win. It's chance but it still does not stop the guy who buys every day from buying to increase his chances. I get dissapointed if I don't win, but I'm still happy for the winners. who doesn't get a good feeling watching the news to see the group of factory workers who win the lottery and quite their jobs. It is good PR.

Getting back to increasing your chances. People write on these boards all the time about how to increase your chances to be picked for a parade or get a free upgrade etc. There are always things you can do to increase your chances. Does it mean you will win? No. Does it make you a bad person if you are dissapointed if you don't win no. But if you base your entire vacation experience around getting an upgrade or getting picked for the parade then you cross a line.

The post cads say you can write one a day on every day of the promotion, starting on Sept 18. Does that mean you can send in one a day for each member of your family, every day for the entire year or so? Again, obsesive maybe? Will it increase your chances, yes. Will it mean you will win no.

 

[MagicMe]

Although I would love to win any of the prizes offered (including the lanyards or whatever), I planned my trip last year before they even announced this celebration. I can't imagine anyone going and expecting to win. Geez, life is a lottery. Every day is always a gift to me!

Even if I don't win, I'm hoping I can see someone win! It always makes me feel good to see anyone surprised like that. I just played bingo on the DCL last month and won small. I was this close to winning the pick pot and the family next to me did. It was such a great feeling to see their excitement!! Course, I told the mother to make sure her husband used the $$ to book another cruise.

Heck - I'm just happy they're finally removing that stupid mirror on the castle!!!

 

[kenman]

Now is when I wish I had a couple Cast Members as friends! Maybe they would give me something. I never win anything! To all of you that don't win go to Universal!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

we're just excited to be in WDW!! our first day in the parks will be 10/1 and we're going to MK! i cannot wait to see our childrens eyes!!!

We'll be there, too! Crystal Palace breakfast!

 

[Poohbear123]

I keep imagining people running through the parks comparing their 'magical' prizes saying "I got a DVC membership!", "I got a night in Cinderella's Castle" and some poor Charlie Brown saying "I got a FastPass".

Me too! I would most likey WIN that! I can pay the "taxes" on that!